Losing a Leg Didn’t Stop Paco the Parrot

Poor Paco! A 16 year old double yellow headed Amazon parrot was attacked by a raccoon and her leg was taken off up to the thigh! She had to be in excruciating pain but she was also in shock. We started her treatment by giving her warmed sterile fluids under her skin, injectable medication for the pain, wrapped her wound to protect it, and allowed her to rest while we determined the next course of action.

Paco with her bandage, after exam on admission

After Paco was more stable, we gave her an antibiotic injection, then we placed a small needle into the bone (interosseous catheter) so that pain medication and fluid threapy could go directly into a bone marrow cavity instead of the vein. These types of catheters are often used in birds since their veins are very superficial and collapse very easily. Birds are such delicate creatures!

Next, we started her on a ‘pain drip’ to keep a small and constant amount of pain medication going into her system at all times. This helped ease Paco’s pain and made her a little sleepy.

Paco post op on her pain drip

We gave her additional antibiotics to protect her wound from becoming infected and 12 hours later she was ready for surgery. Part of her leg had to be removed. Paco’s a strong bird and she made it through the surgery just fine!

Paco is intubated (on a breathing tube) during surgery

We were so happy when she started eating just four hours after surgery. Once she started eating, we knew she had turned a corner in her recovery. While dogs and cats who have had a leg amputated have a built in crutch with their third leg, birds don’t have this advantage. That didn’t slow Paco down! We watched as she began to use her wings and her beak as crutches. Birds are such amazing creatures! Paco became stronger every day and started to move around more and more.

Today, she is in a small cage with a rope for perching and places for her to use her wings and beak to help her get around. She’s even potty-trained herself! Instead of ‘going’ in her padded bed, she holds it until she is out of her cage and on newspaper. Paco is such a smart bird and we are so happy she is doing so well.

We love happy endings!

Until next time, please spay and neuter your pet and keep them healthy and indoors!